What are stat holidays in Ontario?

What Are Statutory Holidays in Ontario?

Not everyone gets Easter Monday off. Below is a complete list of mandatory paid holidays in Ontario. The province remains one of the few where Remembrance Day isn’t a statutory holiday. Manitoba and Quebec also do not provide holiday pay or a day off for this.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day falls on Tuesday, November 11, marking the anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. A moment of silence at 11 a.m. is usually observed in schools and workplaces to remember the time the armistice went into effect.

While there are official ceremonies to honour all Canadian Armed Forces members killed in the line of duty, Remembrance Day is considered an “optional” holiday in Ontario.

Optional Holidays in Ontario

Along with Remembrance Day, Easter Monday, the Civic Day in August, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 are commonly observed but not legally mandated. Businesses can decide whether to recognize these optional holidays.

Federally regulated government institutions and Crown corporations, such as Canada Post and banks, are closed on these days.

What Are Statutory Holidays?

Paid public holidays, also called statutory or general holidays, are days when most businesses are required by law to close but must still pay eligible employees as if it were a normal workday.

Mandatory Statutory Paid Holidays in Ontario for 2025

On a statutory holiday, employers are legally required to:

Author's summary: Ontario has specific mandatory and optional paid holidays; Remembrance Day is optional, while employers must observe statutory holidays by law.

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Inside Halton Inside Halton — 2025-11-06

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